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I think this debate will be received somewhat like the first Bush/Gore debate was. W lost the debate on the "classic debate scoring system" (whatever that is) but he will be well received well in the livingrooms of America. I think we all can more closly relate to W and no one likes a Monday mornng QB. I must say I wanted to see W pound the specifics of opposing statments Kerry has made in the past, he didn't point out many of the unexplainables that Kerry has dug himself into.

I also wanted President Bush to zero in on Kerry's jugular.

We on FreeRepublic spend so much time dissecting Kerry that it becomes second nature to us. Throw out a Kerry B.S. line and BAM, a Freeper can be on Kerry like a pitbull on a porkchop. Perhaps, a Freeper would have debated Kerry better.

However, President Bush spends his time being Commander-in-Chief paying attention to the World instead of paying attention to John Kerry's flip flops.

Maybe Bush was advised not to go for Kerry's jugular for "focus group reasons". Who knows.

All I know is that, when Bush would say that Kerry's flip flops "Send the wrong message to the troops, sends the wrong message America's allies and sends the wrong message the Iraqis", I would mentally scream "Why don't you say that it also sends a wrong message of weakness to America's enemies!"

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Maybe Bush was advised not to go for Kerry's jugular for "focus group reasons". Who knows.
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Perhaps, but as you say "who knows".
What I do know is, tonight's "debate" was just one part of a long process. In and of itself, it's not that significant. No one who is committed to either candidate is going to change their vote because of this debate, or any of the others to come. There are not that many uncommitted and Kerry needs most if not all of them. There are most likely a lot more tricks and surprises from both sides coming. Something that I think works in Bush's favor in the next few weeks is the left has been so outrageous for the past 5 years calling Bush Hitler, in bed with big oil, in bed with Saudi Arabia, etc. that many folks have become skeptical of, or numb to, their accusations. They call Bush the most vile of names and ascribe the most vile of motives then as proof they provide questionable documents suggesting he didn't show up to turn his head and cough.